Earle Hagen

Earle Harry Hagen (July 9, 1919 – May 26, 2008) was an American composer who created music for films and television. His best-known TV themes include The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, That Girl and The Mod Squad. He is also remembered for composing and whistling the theme to The Andy Griffith Show; writing the instrumental song "Harlem Nocturne" used as the theme for television's Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer; and co-writing the theme song to Tim Conway's Western comedy Rango.

Birth and Death Data: Born Chicago (city and county seat of Cook County, and largest city in State of Illinois, United States of America), Died May 26, 2008 (Rancho Mirage (city in Riverside County, California, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, trombone, conductor, composer, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-018421 10-in. 1/27/1938 How can you forget Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-018422 10-in. 1/27/1938 More than ever Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-018423 10-in. 1/27/1938 There's a boy in Harlem Tommy Dorsey Orchestra ; Edythe Wright Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-018424 10-in. 1/27/1938 Annie Laurie Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal quartet instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor BS-019617 10-in. 2/3/1938 Annie Laurie Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal quartet instrumentalist, trombone  
Victor E0VB-3516 10-in. 1/16/1950 There's an 'X' in the middle of Texas Dennis Day ; Earle Hagen Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band leader  
Victor E0VB-3517 10-in. 1/16/1950 O, Katharina! Dennis Day ; Earle Hagen Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band leader  
Victor E4LB-3020 10-in. 2/1/1954 Angel bells Spencer-Hagen Orchestra composer, conductor  
Victor E4LB-3536 10-in. approximately 1954 Black sapphire Spencer-Hagen Orchestra composer  
Victor E4LB-4540 10-in. 10/19/1954 Vera Cruz Spencer-Hagen Orchestra conductor  
Victor E4LB-4541 10-in. 10/19/1954 I met you once before Spencer-Hagen Orchestra conductor  
Victor E4LB-5207 10-in. 12/28/1954 Silver fizz Spencer-Hagen Orchestra conductor, composer  
Victor E4LB-5209 10-in. 12/28/1954 Cuba libra Spencer-Hagen Orchestra conductor, composer  
Victor F4PB-5819 10-in. 9/1/1955 Serenade Spencer-Hagen Orchestra conductor, songwriter  
Victor D5AB-0230 10-in. 4/24/1945 Harlem nocturne New Music [Shep Fields] Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor D7VB-1309 10-in. 7/24/1947 Lazy countryside Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra leader  
Victor D7VB-1310 10-in. 7/24/1947 Too good to be true Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra leader  
Victor D7VB-1311 10-in. 7/24/1947 Julie Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra leader  
Victor D7VB-1336 10-in. 9/3/1947 Begin the beguine Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor D7VB-1337 10-in. 9/3/1947 The Christmas song (merry Christmas to you) Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor D7VB-1338 10-in. 9/3/1947 Good night sweetheart Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor D7VB-1359 10-in. 9/17/1947 If I had you Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor D7VB-1360 10-in. 9/17/1947 I'll dance at your wedding Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band leader  
Victor D7VB-1361 10-in. 9/17/1947 Carolina in the morning Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band leader  
Victor D7VB-1375 10-in. 10/14/1947 My sin Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
(Results 1-25 of 56 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hagen, Earle," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106170.

Hagen, Earle. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106170.

"Hagen, Earle." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106170

External Sources

Wikipedia: Earle Hagen

Discogs: Earle Hagen

Grove: Earle Hagen

IMDb: Earle Hagen

Britannica: Earle Hagen

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Hagen, Earle - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n89670022

Wikidata: Earle Hagen - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1277469

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/119161185

MusicBrainz: Earle Hagen - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ff9c32fe-f47e-4e9f-bcf2-cb0b8421266d

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/261446 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/261446

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